“Why on Chloride Street is the best place to be most mornings,” says Broken Hill’s Justin Hoskins. And it’s not just about the gym.
That was how the ABC Broken Hill interview with Justin Hoskins, Cluster Manager for The Y NSW in Broken Hill, kicked off this week highlighting the incredible energy and purpose powering our regional centres.
Justin Hoskins, Cluster Manager at The Y Broken Hill, joined Patrick for a wide-ranging conversation about how The Y is leaning into a new era—one focused on empowering youth, reinvesting every dollar back into Broken Hill and what it means to serve a remote community with heart.
“We’re not just a gym. We’re a community service,” said Justin. “Our goal is to impact young people across NSW, and in Broken Hill, we’re doing that through everything from street gyms to our Alternative Suspension Program.”
It is the program, which partners with schools to support students during suspensions, is changing the game.
“Instead of sending them home to twiddle their thumbs, we support them with trained educators, help them stay on top of curriculum, build life skills, and focus on personal development,” Justin explained. “The results speak for themselves—better attendance, better behaviour, and stronger connections.”
It’s part of a broader strategy The Y is rolling out across NSW tailoring services to each community’s needs. And for Broken Hill, the approach is clearly working.
Since Justin joined in November, membership across both local centres has grown from 800–900 to around 1,250 members. The team, led by local favourite Nicole Neal, is now preparing to refresh both gyms with $200,000 in brand-new cardio equipment.
“When people become a member, grab a coffee, or go for a swim, that money stays right here,” said Justin. “It goes into services, programs, staff—everything that makes this place run for the benefit of Broken Hill.”
The Broken Hill centres are also heavily integrated with local schools, providing space and support for programs like School of the Air, swimming carnivals, and fitness sessions. Even the 50m pool, originally set to close at the end of daylight savings, is staying open longer this April thanks to community feedback.
“We listened. It’s still warm, people want to use it—so we’re keeping it open while we can,” said Justin.
For locals, that means more time in the water, more energy at the gym, and more programs that truly make a difference.
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